GRIP AND RIP: Yates has driver humming, shoots in red to grab medalist honor and lead No. 6 Lynx to dual-meet win over Humboldt

WEBSTER CITY – Logan Yates couldn’t even believe it as he put his bag on the ground and paced off his distance to the green on the uphill 442-yard, par-5 fourth hole at Briggs Woods Golf Course yesterday afternoon.

He estimated his carry to the front at 50 yards.

Oh, by the way, he was laying one. If his yardage was correct, Yates uncorked a 392-yard drive with his Taylor Made R1 driver.

Go ahead and gasp now.

“I can usually hit it close to 300 yards, but I really got into that one,” Yates said. “We did have a little tailwind with us though.”

Yates’ ridiculous power off the tee on No. 4 translated into a birdie – the same score he wrote down on the par-5 first – and he turned in a 1-under par 35 to win the medalist honor and power Webster City to a 152-160 dual-meet victory over North Central Conference rival Humboldt.

The win assured the sixth-ranked (Class 3A) Lynx of a runner-up finish in the league dual standings behind No. 2 (2A) Fort Dodge St. Edmond. WCHS (21-2) will host the NCC tournament on Monday at 10 a.m.

“We had a good score and it was a big meet for us because Humboldt is a very hearty competitor and we played really well,” WCHS head coach Dave Brighton said. “Once again our depth helped and brought us through.”

Yates volunteered to drop back to the No. 5 spot in the lineup so he could play with fellow big bomber Sean Vogelbacher, and the two thrived off one another’s game.

Yates pasted a drive approximately 50 yards short of the 377-yard, par-4 sixth hole, but Vogelbacher got him by 20 yards.

Still, Yates says his shot off the fourth tee gave him bragging rights.

“We try to have a little competition between us, but I think I got him with that shot (on No. 4),” Yates said. “I’ve had troubles in the past getting off the tee, but hitting it straight, especially in the wind, was big. I had a little mess up (a bogey) on No. 8, but otherwise it was a solid round.”

Brighton expected Yates to find his comfort zone once some of the pressure on his shoulders eased.

“Logan is more comfortable (in the No. 5) slot and he played well,” Brighton said. “He likes to play with guys that maybe aren’t as good as him … that’s maybe something we have to continue to do.”

Vogelbacher also contributed to the Lynx win, as he and teammate John Ferrell both carded rounds of 40. Ferrell birdied the 428-yard, par-4 fifth hole.

The Fuhs twins – Avery and Alec – played in the lead group.

Avery Fuhs bogeyed the 517-yard, par-5 first, but regrouped quickly with a birdie at the 274-yard, par-4 second. Standing on the second tee and fighting a brutal wind, he drove the green, nearly made the eagle putt and tapped in for the birdie.

Avery Fuhs came home with pars on six of the final seven holes for a 37. The lone blip was a bogey on the 357-yard, par-4 eighth.

Alec Fuhs was just 1-over after six holes, but yanked his tee shot left and out of bounds on the 211-yard, par-3 seventh. He walked off the green at 4-over following a triple bogey and shot a 41.

Drew Fielder completed the Lynx lineup with a 46.

Humboldt’s Brendan Schnell also shot a 37, but lost the cardback for the runner-up medal to Avery Fuhs.